China Unit Study Guide
Use this guide immediately to help you study and prepare for the upcoming China Unit Test.
Chapter 19
Know the difference between Inner and Outer China.
Know the important areas of China when asked to identify them on a map.
Be able to discuss how geography affected the early settlement and history of China.
Be able to identify benefits and challenges of the geographical regions of China.
Know about Mongolia (where it is located and was called in the past).
Know important facts about major areas, like why the Huang He got its name.
Know how regional setting affected the diet and housing of the people in the region.
Chapter 20
Know the geographical setting of the Shang dynasty.
Know the story of how the once mythical Shang dynasty went from a myth to reality for
modern archeologists.
Know about ancestor worship and the many ways the Chinese followed this custom.
Know about oracle bones.
Know about government under the Shang and what made it strong.
Know how written language was used to unify the people.
Know the significance of jade.
Know how long the Shang ruled and what lead to their downfall.
Chapter 21
Know about the Zhou dynasty.
Know who the first ruler of the Zhou dynasty was.
Know how the Zhou justified, or rationalized their conquests.
Know what the Warring States period was.
Know the founder of each of the three philosophies and the main goal of each philosophy.
Be familiar with the general teachings of each philosophy and how each influenced society.
Be sure to read and review the illustrations and captions in each chapter. What do they tell
you about the culture?
Chapter 22
Be able to explain how the Qin came into power.
Discuss ways in which Qin Shihuangdi was both effective and ineffective as a ruler and
protector of China.
Know which philosophy Qin Shihuangdi used to guide his ruler-ship of China and what
things were done as a result.
Review your notes from the video and class discussions.
Explain what happened when Qin Shihuangdi died.
How long had the first emperor of modern China ruled?
Chapter 23
Know the boundaries of China.
Know who conquered the Qin army and established the Han dynasty.
Know how long Han rule lasted in China.
Know the advancements the Han made in warfare, agriculture, industry, art, medicine, and
science.
Explain how the government was set up and maintained under the Han.
Be able to explain what philosophy the Han used to rule China and how that affected the
length of their rule.
Know about silk production.
Know what a “broom star” is.
Know who Emperor Wudi was and why he was important.
Chapter 24
Know what the silk road was and why it was important.
Be able to chart the routes of the Silk Road and describe the conditions merchants endured
on the journey.
What goods were traded between the cultures?
Be able to discuss the cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.
Vocabulary
plateau
plain
depression
desert
basin
oasis
sparse
silt
tributary
bronze
clan
economy
feudalism
civil servant
yin
yang
standardize
exile
immortal
terra-cotta
bureaucracy
calligraphy
anesthetic
acupuncture
seismograph
compass
lodestone
Be ready to make comparisons and
contrasts between what you’ve learned
about the ancient Chinese people and
culture and what you’ve learned about the
other ancient civilizations of that time.